Anybody have a suggestion for a water tank to mount on a frontrunner roof rack to use for a solar shower. I am thinking black so it would heat up and fairly slim for better air flow. I am thinking 4 inches tall by six/eight inches wide by thirty or so inches long. I am flexible on the measurements but don't want to much weight up top. Probably would just mount it up for beach/fishing trips. Thanks for the help.
Roof rack water tank for solar shower
- Thread starter X918
- Start date
Here is a newer product that does what you want. Also, there are several other DIY'er solutions on this forum.
http://roadshower.com/
http://roadshower.com/
Ducky's Dad
Explorer
Not a good idea. Water is not compressible (mostly), but air is, and compressed air stores a lot more energy than pressurized water. If the tank lets go, it can get ugly. Low pressure is OK, but don't do it with a compressor.
rayra
Expedition Leader
Don't be so fearful. While it's true that pressure tolerance drops off sharply the larger the diameter goes on such pipe, you can run the pressure up to something useful with plenty of safety margin left. The PSI ratings are usually right on the pipe, but can be found on various plumbing and manufacturer sites.
But I'm suggesting the OP look at RV grey- and black-water tanks. They are typically ~4" tall and have a rectangular footprint. Quite suitable for a roof tank. CAUTION, a black tank will get the water hot enough to scald you, depending on conditions.
There are about 7.5gals in a cubic foot. So a 2'x3'x4" tank would hold ~15gal. And that's about 120-lbs. Keep the total weight in mind, putting such a thing on your roof, for both the structural strength of the roof and for center of gravity issues while driving.
Also, the standard 5gal coleman PVC shower bags work great for what they are, and roll up to very little space when empty. If you are going somewhere with water, it would be easy to fill it and throw it on the roof to heat and for use. And they only cost about $12 right now.
https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-2000...dp/B0009PUT20?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0
But I'm suggesting the OP look at RV grey- and black-water tanks. They are typically ~4" tall and have a rectangular footprint. Quite suitable for a roof tank. CAUTION, a black tank will get the water hot enough to scald you, depending on conditions.
There are about 7.5gals in a cubic foot. So a 2'x3'x4" tank would hold ~15gal. And that's about 120-lbs. Keep the total weight in mind, putting such a thing on your roof, for both the structural strength of the roof and for center of gravity issues while driving.
Also, the standard 5gal coleman PVC shower bags work great for what they are, and roll up to very little space when empty. If you are going somewhere with water, it would be easy to fill it and throw it on the roof to heat and for use. And they only cost about $12 right now.
https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-2000...dp/B0009PUT20?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0
SDDiver5
Expedition Leader
Someone on here made something similar... Black PVC pipe. Cap on one end with a place to fill with water. On the other end he has a place where he connects the hose. On top there is a little nipple thing to fill with air when ready to shower. It sits on top of his roof rack and when he is ready to shower he puts in a little but of air and then turns on the shower head. The idea was that the water will be warm due to the black PVC pipe. I think it turned out pretty well..
I don't remember his name but he has a white or gray nissan frontier.
Ah....its basically the road shower that was posted in the first post....just homemade.
I don't remember his name but he has a white or gray nissan frontier.
Ah....its basically the road shower that was posted in the first post....just homemade.
rayra
Expedition Leader
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/126067-Road-Shower
Would be very easy to make something like it. Use a metal valve stem and a hose bib, both mounted in an end cap. Mount the valve stem high, use it to bleed air while filling, and to add a bit of air pressure for use. Short garden hose with a garden sprayer on it. Or use an air hose QD.
You can also use an ABS Y-connector with threaded cleanout cap as your fill point. With the Y branch aimed up. But a 4" dia pipe, 6' long would only hold about 4gal if I'm doing the math right. A 6" pipe 6' long holds a little under 9gals.
Would be very easy to make something like it. Use a metal valve stem and a hose bib, both mounted in an end cap. Mount the valve stem high, use it to bleed air while filling, and to add a bit of air pressure for use. Short garden hose with a garden sprayer on it. Or use an air hose QD.
You can also use an ABS Y-connector with threaded cleanout cap as your fill point. With the Y branch aimed up. But a 4" dia pipe, 6' long would only hold about 4gal if I'm doing the math right. A 6" pipe 6' long holds a little under 9gals.
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TrekboxX
Supporting Sponsor - TrekboxX
Hey guys. I made one from 6" ABS pipe. There's a standard garden hose type spigot on one end, which you can use for filling as well. There's 2 pressure relief valves on the top, one in and one out. You don't need to pressurize the tank. The gravity feed has been plenty. The water heats up very well, but does cool off fast at night, so don't wait if you're going to shower! I think mine is about 60" long or so and hold around 17 gallons.
Here's the thing. As with anything, unless you have a good/free source for materials, it wasn't really any cheaper. I had to buy a 20' length of pipe ($$$), and the fittings were $$$. Something like 30-40 bucks each end if I remember right. Oh, well, live and learn. With the other fittings and hose, etc., I probably had $250 into it. Oh, and don't forget the aluminum and custom shaft collars to attach it... I'll see if I can dig up a pic.
Here's the thing. As with anything, unless you have a good/free source for materials, it wasn't really any cheaper. I had to buy a 20' length of pipe ($$$), and the fittings were $$$. Something like 30-40 bucks each end if I remember right. Oh, well, live and learn. With the other fittings and hose, etc., I probably had $250 into it. Oh, and don't forget the aluminum and custom shaft collars to attach it... I'll see if I can dig up a pic.
Rezarf <><
Explorer
I bought a Road Shower 2... it is VERY well made, simple to mount, heats up quick and simply works as advertised. My wife LOVES it for the clean up of the kids each day when camping. It's my second favorite luxury next to our Engel fridge.
cruzerDave
Observer
I'm considering water storage options too, but likely to heat through engine so just focusing on storage:
http://www.plastic-mart.com/category/33/rv-water-tanks
http://www.plastic-mart.com/category/33/rv-water-tanks
stageracer
Member
Check Frontrunner's website. I put the 17.7 gal tank on the Aluminess roof rack on my 2012 E350 van
rayra
Expedition Leader
RV 'Grey water' holding tanks. Portable. sizes range from 5 to 22gal.
Boating plastic fuel tank.
usplastics.com has a lot of poly tanks in various dimensions, some are nice flattish rectangles that would work great for a roof top tank.
all these things are typically HDPE-2, same as 'food safe' plastics. The only difference between 'food safe' and regular HDPE-2 is a regulation regarding use of edible lubricants in the manufacturing machinery. And that's almost always just mineral oil. So get whatever HDPE-2 tank you want, rinse it out with very hot water and baking soda, a little bleach, and you have a potable water tank. Or certainly a shower tank that you don't have to worry about ingesting some of the water.
Boating plastic fuel tank.
usplastics.com has a lot of poly tanks in various dimensions, some are nice flattish rectangles that would work great for a roof top tank.
all these things are typically HDPE-2, same as 'food safe' plastics. The only difference between 'food safe' and regular HDPE-2 is a regulation regarding use of edible lubricants in the manufacturing machinery. And that's almost always just mineral oil. So get whatever HDPE-2 tank you want, rinse it out with very hot water and baking soda, a little bleach, and you have a potable water tank. Or certainly a shower tank that you don't have to worry about ingesting some of the water.
LandCruiserPhil
Expedition Leader
Do you really want that much weight on your roof?